Automatic feeding device for handicapped persons



Aug. 17, w54 T. M. WALKER 2,535,408

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Filed Aug. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Aug l7, 1954 T. M. WALKER 2,686,408

AUTOMATIC FEEZDING DEVICE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Filed Aug. 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HZZZQW INVENTOR ATTORNEYS\ Aug. l?, 1954 T, M, WALKER 2,686,408

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Filed Aug. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 1 l /y l l 0 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED aan O-'FFl-CE AUTOMATICFEEDING DEVICE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Thomas M. .Walken Magnolia, Ark.

Application August V6, 1953, Serial No., 3 7,2,.770

Claims. ll

This invention relates to'an automatic feeding device for handicapped persons, and more particularly'to such a device wherebya persondeprived of the use of his arms may feed himself from a bowl or plate or the like, the mechanism being actuated primarily by pressure of the body against one of the component parts thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this character'which may-be conveniently placed closely adjacent the body of the user, and provided with apressure bar, the arrangement being such that a spoon or other implement may be positioned in a ybowl or the like, levelled, and raisedv to the level ofthe mouth by means ofbody pressure alone.

A further object of the invention is thel provision of such a device provided with auxiliary implements, such as a glass holder, and a napkin holder closely adjacent the mouthof the user, whereby he may reach the same witha minimum of -diilculty and effort.

A further objectof the invention iszthe provision of an attachment with such a device whereby the-dish or bowl containing the food'to be'eaten is partially rotated with each movement of the spoon, whereby all of itscontents may be readily removed.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed the preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

Still other objects willin part bezobvious,. and in part 4be pointed out as the description-ofthe invention proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of one form of device disclosing the instant invention, certain concealed portions of the mechanism being indicated in dotted lines, and an alternativeposition of adjustment being also indicatedin dottedlines.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 asviewe'd in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of :the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational View of the device, partially in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing portions of the-mechanism of Fig. 4 in a differentposition of adjustment, a still further position of adjustment being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is asectional viewtakensubstantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 asviewed inthe direction indicated? by the. arrows, and

'7 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 'l-T .of Fig. 6 as Viewed in the direction indcatedby the arrows.

lSimilar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral Views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there vis generally indicated `at lll a table or the like provided with a top surface and having a depending'marginalange|2 extending thereabout. The table |'0 may be Supported by legs iff desired, -or alternatively may be placed onany dat surface in juxtaposition-to the person of the user thereof.

The tabletop ||is-provided adjacent one end thereof with a bore or'aperturer I3, through which extends afspindle M, toi which is secured a suitable bowl supportingtray l5, `forming a cradle for a bowl lorthe like.

The lower end of the-spindle trl has secured thereto afratchet |"|,`which is engaged'by a-pawl |8- spring biased into-position as by means of a spring I9.

Ratchet is adapted tobe moved by means of a dog 20, including a javi/2| pivotally mounted as on a'pvot 22 to one end of an arm 28.

As best shown-in'Fig. 1in dotted lines a compression lspring 275 positioned between an ear 26 of dog 20 and an opposed ear 27, serves to bias the dog in they direction of ratchet I1. The ear 2l is carried by the arm 28 which is mounted for rotation on the-spindle It. Connected to the arm 28 by a pivot pin-2-4'is a link 23.

From the foregoing it will now be lseen that as the arm 23 is vmoved laterally dog 20 will serve to rotate ratchet rIl, thus rotating the tray l5 through a fraction of a turn, and simultaneously rotating the bowl. The manner of movement of the arm 23 will be more fully described hereinafter.

As best shown in Figs. land 2 arm 23 is pivotally connected as by a pivot it to a bar 3| extending through a suitable aperture in flange |2 and terminating in a padded cushion member 32, which projects outwardly of the device, and is adapted to befmoved'by pressure or the body of the user thereagainst. Obviously inward movement of cushion 32 will occasion forward movement of rod 23, the consequent rotation of the dish I6. Bar 3| is provided with an arcuate extension 33, Vbetween which and the adjacent ange l2 is connected a spring 313 which normally biasesthe bar 3| to extended position when pressure is not exertedthereagainst. A pivot pin 35 connects the bar 33 tothe table top An arcuate extension 36 is in turn connected as by a pivot 3'! to a further link 38, which by means of a pivot 39 is connected to an arm 40 xedly connected below the table top to the lower end of an upwardly extending shaft lll which extends through table top Ii and upwardly through a mounting bushing d2 a substantial distance above the top il of table l0. It will thus be seen that the spindle 4| is rotated through pressure against cushion 32 simultaneously with the rotation of the bowl I3.

The spindle fl! has fixedly secured thereto an extended arm 45, which carries at its outer extremity a pair of spaced uprights 52, the latter forming a track, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. A suitable supporting member 45 ixedly secured to the top of spindle 4l may extend to the top of uprights 5i, 52 to strengthen the assembly.

Positioned between the uprights 5i, 52 forl slidable movement therebetween is a carrier member 55, which has secured to its front and rear faces respectively plates 5l and 52, of greater width than the space between the portions 41, and serving to hold the carrier member therebetween.

Plate 52 is provided with a headed stud 53 iixedly secured thereto, the stud 53 extending outwardly through an elongated slot 54 in a platelike depending member 55.

Member 55 carries on its outer face a roller 56, provided with a peripheral groove 5'! (see Fig. 3) which roller is adapted to ride on an arcuate track 58, which extends between the upper eX- tremities of two supporting posts 59 and 50 respectively positioned adjacent diagonally opposite corners of table I0. The track 58 is provided at a point near the post 53 with an upwardly inclined cam portion 6i, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown pivotally secured as by a pivot B5, to the lower end of member 55 a spoon holding clamp generally indicated at 66, and formed, as best shown in Fig. '7, of a substantially C-shaped member including arms 58 each provided with a transverse slot 59 intersected by a bore for a set screw member '10. The arrangement is such that the handle 'il of a spoon 12 or other implement may be inserted in the slots '69 and clamped therein by means of set screws 10.

The lower end of elevator member 55 is provided with an extending transverse arm l5 having at the lower portion of its rear an inclined surface l5 adapted for abutment with the end of the extension 66 in such manner as to hold spoon l2 at the proper inclination when desired as shown in the position indicated in Fig. 4. A bracket member 'i5' is dependingly fixed to extension i5 and is pivotally connected as .by means of the pivot 'il to spoon carrier 5G at a point outwardly of the bowl of the spoon relative to pivot 6.).

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. With the parts in position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the bowl of spoon 'i2 is seated in the bowl or dish I6. Inward pressure on the cushion member 32 will now through the linkage previously described cause rotation of the shaft 4|, which will cause roller 55 to ride along arcuate track 58. As the roller 56 rides up the inclined cam surface Si the first movement effected will be the tilting of the spoon carrier S6 to level position as best shown in full lines in Fig. 5. This will occur when the roller is approximately half way up the inclined surface El.

As the roller continues to ride to the top of the inclined portion 6l of track 58 and enters the level part thereof it will be swung in an arc to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. l, at which point it will be level and substantially adjacent the mouth of the user of the device.

If desired additional accessories such as a holder for a glass 8| provided with a drinking straw 82 may be positioned closely adjacent cushion 32 in such manner as to be readily accessible to the user.

A conventional spring clip 85 of any desired type may be secured to the device at a location convenient to the mouth of the user for the purpose of holding a napkin, against which the lips may be passed without the necessity of the use of the hands or arms.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved feeding device for those who have lost the use of hands or arms, which will serve to feed the patient by means of body pressure alone, thus relieving him and any attendant of the necessity of having other feed him.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided an improved device of this character, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, including many advantages of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

l claim:

l. In a device of the character described in combination, a table, a bowl holder, a spoon holder, means for rotating said spoon holder from a position adjacent said bowl holder in a quarter circle to a position adjacent the mouth of the operator, means for simultaneously elevating said spoon, means connected with the last mentioned means for simultaneously moving said bowl holder through an angle of a few degrees about the center of said bowl holder, and body operated means for actuating said means for rotating said spoon holder, said last mentioned means comprising a pad movable by chest pressure, a linkage connecting said pad to said means for rotating said spoon holder, and spring means biasing said pad outwardly to return said spoon holder upon relief of said pressure.

2. In a device of the character described in combination, a table, a bowl holder, a spoon holder, means for rotating said spoon holder from a position adjacent said bowl holder in a quarter circle to a position adjacent the mouth of the operator, means for simultaneously elevating said spoon, means connected with the last mentioned means for simultaneously moving said bowl holder through an angle of a few degrees about the center of said bowl holder, means for simultaneously moving said spoon holder from an inclined to a level position, and body operated means for actuating said means for rotating said spoon holder, said last mentioned means comprising a pad movable by chest pressure, a linkage connecting said pad to said means for rotating said spoon holder, spring means biasing said pad outwardly to return said spoon holder upon relief of said pressure.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the means for rotating and elevating said spoon include a spindle rotatable by said linkage, an arm rotatable thereby, a carriage mounted for vertical movement at the end of said arm, said spoon holder being carried by said carriage, a roller mounted on said carriage, and an arcuate track having an inclined portion upon which said roller is adapted to move upon rotation of said spindle.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the means for moving said bowl holder includes a spindle carrying said bowl holder, a supplemental linkage connected to said rst linkage, and a ratchet and pawl connection between the last mentioned spindle and said supplemental linkage.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said carriage includes twoportions relatively movable in a vertical direction and the means for leveling the spoon holder comprises a transverse extension on one portion of said carriage, a bracket depending References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,333,208 Maguire Mar. 9, 1920 1,333,209 Maguire Mar. 9, 1920 1,343,606 Young June 15, 1920 2,608,073 Hill Aug. 26, 1952 

